Posted on 12/20/2004 1:08:56 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Even before it officially takes effect on Feb. 16, the Kyoto agreement to curb greenhouse gases is leaking air.
Fixing it won't be easy.
Last week, most of the world's nations met in Argentina to assess what the treaty might be able to achieve by its expiration in 2012. Many nations are faltering in their commitment to rein in industrial carbon-dioxide pollution since it's possible such steps will limit economic growth.
Some, such as Italy and Canada, are raising doubts about the sacrifices required. Britain admits it may not reach its target, while Japan flat-out says it can't reduce emissions by the expected amount, which is 6 percent below the 1990 levels.
If only the US, as the world's biggest CO2 polluter, had been in the treaty, the other developed nations might feel better about imposing restraints on their industries.
That's why the other purpose of last week's meeting was so important. European diplomats bent over backward to find a new consensus for a post-Kyoto effort that would include the US.
But not much happened. The meeting ended with a weak proposal for an international "seminar" in May for nations to "exchange information" on their ideas about the unusual weather many are experiencing.
With the reelection of President Bush, the US position will probably remain the same for the next four years: It will not make economic sacrifices to limit CO2 emissions, but it's making a big technological push to do so. Many experts doubt if new cleansing technologies will make a dent soon in climate shifts. But they also doubt whether even extending Kyoto would do much.
To keep the US engaged, Europe is likely to need to bend toward the Bush view if it wants to forge a post-Kyoto agreement. Its own experience with Kyoto may push it that way, too. In addition, with China, India, Brazil, and other lesser-developed nations clearly out of Kyoto, the only consensus may be a massive investment in new, clean-burning fuel technologies.
But holding a "seminar" hardly captures the urgency to do something quickly about climate change.
You know, I'll bet you and I would be shocked to know how much of Kyoto has been implemented quietly by our states. The NGOs never sleep.
The senate unanymously opposed any cash transfers prior to the Kyoto meeting. But that is what Kyoto was all about: the US paying other countries money because we use more fuel. The Old BS Media had a glimpse of the future: we fought them tooth-and-nail, and wouldn't you know it? They weren't able to trick us into handing billions of dollars to other countries.
"If only the US, as the world's biggest CO2 polluter, had been in the treaty, the other developed nations might feel better about imposing restraints on their industries."
Yeah, blame the US that they can't lead themselves by their own example. Good grief! [ROFL!!!]
Urgency? Why would anyone be urgently trying to shut down life on earth just because the the earth is warming ever so slightly as it has done countless times in the prehistoric past.
NONE of the countries that signed this treaty have come any where near their implimentation targets. It is a universal failure, and was pre-ordained to be such.
And also, China wasn't even asked to do a damned thing. It's the fastest growing emitter on the planet.
Oh I forgot. They're a communist state. What was I thinking.
Bingo!
And stifle free enterprise.
John Kerry would have pushed for it to pass. He and Teresa met at one of these international environmental, commie lovefests.
***BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 18 - Two weeks of negotiations at a United Nations conference here on climate change ended early Saturday with a weak pledge to start limited, informal talks on ways to slow down global warming, after the United States blocked efforts to begin more substantive discussions.
The main focus was to discuss the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, which goes into force on Feb. 16 and will require industrial nations to make substantial cuts in their emissions of so-called greenhouse gases. But another goal had been to draw the United States, which withdrew from the accord in 2001, back into discussions about ways to mitigate climate change after 2012, when the Kyoto agreement expires
Governments that are already committed to reducing emissions under the Kyoto plan used diplomatic language to express their disappointment at the American position. Environmental groups, however, were more critical of what they characterized as obstructionism.
"This is a new low for the United States, not just to pull out, but to block other countries from moving ahead on their own path," said Jeff Fiedler, an observer representing the Washington-based Natural Resources Defense Council. "It's almost spiteful to say, 'You can't move ahead without us.' If you're not going to lead, then get out of the way."........***
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/19/science/19climate.html?oref=login
It sure was.
But the original concept really was to extract as much money from the US as possible before we figured out that part of their scam, re: fines for non-compliance in emmissions reductions.
In the end, the Europeans and the Third Worlders, especially China and the Arabs, figured to curb our economy beyond repair and teach the US a lesson about how our success will breed their contempt.
Kyoto Kaput? Ask Caputo.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ggrpt/
Just to answer your question....
End Use Sector Industrial
1990:1688.8 metric tons
2002: 1673.7 metric tons (P)
End Use Sector Residential
1990: 950.8 metric tons
2002: 1193.00 metric tons (P)
End Use Sector Commercial
1990: 779.5 metric tons
2002: 1012.9 metric tons (P)
End Use Sector Transportation
1990: 1569.5 metric tons
2002: 1849.7 metric tons (P)
Please note that the End Use Industrial Sectors have already met the requirements (given the figures are 2yrs. old) Emission numbers generally run several years behind. Most industry is using an EMS or ISO 14001 system to lower emissions and improve their bottom line with a commitment to continuous improvement.
The residential sector demonstrates a slight rise above 1990 levels and considering we've had a housing boom for the past 20 years, it looks pretty good to me.
The other two sectors do not demonstrate significant results, but if the other sectors are successfully implementing controls the other two should begin to fall in line as technology and ROI begin to catch-up with their sectors.
Hmm, aren't the people, who scream the loudest about unemployment and poverty the same people who scream the loudest about Kyoto?
The real problem with Kyoto, is that there is no global warming. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has gone along with the Global Warming Myth.
The NRDC represents a claque of oil and gas interests.
Thanks for the note. If I understand correctly, then we are trying to meet Kyoto's targets.
""This is a new low for the United States, not just to pull out, but to block other countries from moving ahead on their own path," said Jeff Fiedler, an observer representing the Washington-based Natural Resources Defense Council. "It's almost spiteful to say, 'You can't move ahead without us.' If you're not going to lead, then get out of the way."........*** "
How much did the Natural Resources Defense Council contribute to the Bush campaign?
And the US got out of the way. We can now watch all the other countries implement their emissions controls. When they have it right, I am sure we will be more than happy to contribute.
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